Flesh-eating New World screwworm found in Texas calf, USDA says
CBS News • • general
Key Points:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of a flesh-eating New World screwworm in a 3-week-old calf in Zavala County, Texas, marking a significant detection near the U.S. border.
- In response, the USDA has established a 12-mile infested zone, imposed quarantines, increased screwworm traps along the border, and formed an Incident Command Team with the Texas Animal Health Commission to eradicate the pest.
- The New World screwworm, a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on living tissue, has been spreading northward from South America and the Caribbean, with over 26,000 cases reported in Mexico and more than 2,700 active cases remaining.
- The USDA emphasized its commitment to eliminating the screwworm, citing previous successful eradication efforts and recent investments in control measures following increased cases in Central America and Mexico.
- The screwworm poses a threat to livestock and, in rare instances, humans, as it infests open wounds or body orifices, potentially causing severe tissue damage.